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Bay Path College in Longmeadow stages multi-media production of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

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Practicing their parts are, from left, Katrina Mannion "Duchess" and Elsa Chase "Alice" for the production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" at Bay Path College in Longmeadow.
(Neal Hawley, The Republican)

LONGMEADOW – When he set out to find a play for Bay Path College’s spring theater production, director Fred Sokol wanted to do something that had never been done before.

“I wanted to make theater happen here that’s never happened before,” he said. “something for the small rehearsal time that we have this spring, something for every age group, something really fun.”

He chose a multi-media adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland,” by Tim Kelly. Entitled “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” it runs just 90 minutes including intermission. According to Sokol, it’s kid-friendly and includes some audience participation.

“I started looking at the original stage adaptation, but it’s not what I wanted,” he said. “I wanted something where kids can come and jump up and down. This is a very funny version.”

Assisting Sokol is Josiah Durham. He will serve as artistic associate and technical director and is building the sets himself.

“I’ve seen the work he’s done,” Sokol said of Durham. “He came highly recommended.” With Durham’s help, Sokol is hoping to transform Mills Theater, creating a wonderland, not just on stage but throughout the theater.

Durham, 23, of Monson, started performing about nine years and began designing sets about five years ago. At Holyoke Community College, he got into theater more and more and now plans to make it his career.

He’s currently engaged in three major projects. He’s assistant technical director at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield, as well as being tech director for the production of “Footloose” at Auburn High School and the production of “Avenue Q” at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. And if that isn’t enough, he’s also performing at the Majestic in the play “Next to Normal.”

“I think it’s important to be well-rounded,” Durham said. “If you’re going to be in charge, you should know about everything related to a production.”

Durham said he loves working with his hands and so set design is an important part of what he does. “I like creating,” he said. “I like putting a theme into something physical.” This set promises to fill the theater.

Although he’s worked on Alice in Wonderland before, it wasn’t this version. “This particular version is very user friendly,” he said. “With this one, we’re going to be able to push some limits.”

Josh Durham, artistic associate and technical director for the production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," at Bay Path College in Longmeadow.Neil Hawley, The Republican

A friend of Durham’s from Monson, Michael Evans, has been recruited to create original music for the stage play. “He’s a good friend,” Durham said, “and a very talented musician.” The music will both underscore the text of the play and serve as interludes between scenes. Some of what he’ll be composing is music to accompany Lewis Carroll’s original poetry, which they’re incorporating into the play, as well as creating his own sound effects.

Two of the more than 20 cast members are Ruth Choate, of Lewiston, Maine, a senior at Bay Path and Elayna Smolowitz, of Watertown, a freshman. All of the female cast members are Bay Path students.

Choate, who has been involved in theater in both high school and college, is playing the Mad Hatter. “It’s an awesome role,” she said. “You get to go crazy on stage and it’s not every day that you get to do that.” She praised Sokol, saying, “he really knows his stuff.”

Smolowitz, who was also involved in theater in high school, is playing Humpty Dumpty. “I love the part,” she said. “I get to be really sarcastic and a bit of a jerk, but it’s really fun.”

“There’s a great spirit among the cast,” director Sokol said. “I’m very grateful for that spirit.”